Method of and apparatus for handling and storing strand material



H. S. OSBORNE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND STORING STRAND MATERIAL May 4, 1954 3 Sheqts-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1951 ATTORNEY y 4, 1954 H. s. OSBORNE 2,677,510 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND STORING STRAND MATERIAL Filed NOV. 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F G 4 CARR V/NG POSITION FIG. 2 CARRY/N6 os/r/o/v A INVENTOA HAROLD 5. OSBORNE W V 7 A 7' TORNEJ/ M y 4, 1954 H s. OSBORNE 2,677,510

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND STORING STRAND MATERIAL Filed Nov. 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3 RELEASE POSITION Patented May 4, 1954 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HAN- DLING AND STORING STRAND MATERIAL Harold Smith Osborne, Upper Montclair, N. .l.

Application November 2, 1951, Serial No. 254,607

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for handling and storing flexible strand material, such as a hose, rope, wire and so on, and relates particularly to a portable non-kinking carrier for such like material.

The object of the invention is to provide a lightweight device on to which a strand may be laid in a given configuration, which may be collapsed into a virtual reel holding the material .in the semblance of a coil, from which the strand or any length thereof may be freely drawn without kinks, twists or strains leading to snarls, and into which a partially withdrawn strand may be rewound.

The device consists broadly of a pair of semicircular reel bases which, in the winding position of the device, may be laid out and spaced apart a short distance so that a strand may be laid or wound thereon in the form of a figure eight. When the strand has been completely stored or the capacity of the device has been reached the device, hinged in line with the crossing point in the figure eight, will be folded together so that the individual loops of the figure eight will be brought together, thus producing a single circular coil of the said stranded material. From this coil the strand, starting with the last end laid in, may be drawn out linearly without kinks or any tendency to snarl. A partially withdrawn strand may be rewound since it is the last end in, which is the firstend out.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is a collapsible and portable garden hose carrier. The first end in may be left with a short free length to be attached to a tap or water system outlet so that after the hose has been completely stored the nozzle end thereof may be drawn out to any desired length. The great advantage of such a device is that a garden hose may be quickly stored by laying in the form of a figure eight, the device then folded together like a suitcase and the hose, now in the semblance of a circular coil, either neatly stored with one end still attached to the water system or transported to a storage room.

In one form the device may be partially opened with the terminations of the semicircular reel members resting on the ground so that the hose is loosened and in a form somewhere between a virtual circular coil and a tightly wound figure eight, and from which loose configuration the free end may be linearly drawn to any desired extent without kinks or tendency to snarl. In another form of the device the handles forming the top guards of the semicircular reel bases may be formed in such a manner that when folded together there will be a central opening from which the strand may be freely drawn. In this form the device in smaller size may be used to store great lengths of material such as fish line, using a plurality of such devices, winding each to full capacity and having the free end 0f the line on the first wound device lead to and become the fixed or beginning end of the line on the next device and so on. The line could then be vended in the usual manner lengths of one or more connected packages from which the line could be freely drawn by the customer either wholly or partially and without kinking or snarlmg.

A feature of the invention is a hinged frame to the extremities of which semicircular reel like members may be hinged and which in the opened position'forrn the top of the top loop of a figure eight and the bottom of the bottom loop thereof. A handle attached to each reel like member acts both as a flange therefor and as a means for lifting and carrying the device when the two said handles are brought together. The two parts of the frame may be latched or otherwise secured in this carrying position. When it is desired to draw out the strand the frame may be opened and the two reel like members set on the ground still in a vertical position so that the convolutions of the strand are greatly loosened making the strand easy to draw out.

Another feature of the invention is a device on which a strand may be wound in a plurality of figure eight convolutions in which the last end wound in is the first end to be drawn out and which said strand will emerge without kinks or twists.

Another feature of the invention is a device on which a strand may be wound in a series of figure eight convolutions having means for loosening the convolutions thereof to oifer no hindrance to the withdrawal of the strand linearly without kinks or twists.

A still further feature of the invention is the combination of a frame and a pair of relatively movable reel like members which in one position form the top and the bottom of a figure eight, in another position both form supports for a coil and in still another position form a loose support for the convolutions of the strand from which the strand may be freely drawn.

Another feature of the invention is a foldable device to each half of which a half reel member is affixed which, in the opened position, form the top and bottom of a figure eight and which, in

3 the closed position, form two spaced apart tops of a reel. A strand wound on the opened device in the convolutions of a figure eight may be freely drawn out of the closed device between the two reel like members Without kinks or twists.

Another feature of the invention is a device into which a strand may be wound in such a manner that, starting with the last end in, it may be withdrawn linearly without kinks or twists and when only partially so withdrawn may be rewound.

Another feature of the invention is a portable carrier for strand material on to which a strand may be wound in a figure eight, folded into a single coil and drawn therefrom linearly and without kinks or twists, the said device being characterized by the absence of any rotating parts.

Other features will appear hereinafter.

The drawings consist of three sheets having six figures as follows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device opened up and laid fiat in the winding position with an indication of a length of hose wound thereon in a figure eight;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device folded into the carrying position with an indication of the hose which has been laid thereon in the convolutions of a figure eight now virtually in a single coil;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device in the release position, that is with the frame opened up and the two half reel like members set up vertically so as to loosen the convolutions of the hose;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative form of the device closed in the carrying position, as shown in Fig. 2, in which the half reel like members and the handles are spaced apart so that the strand may be drawn out from the device in such closed position;

Fig. 5 is an outline sketch showing how a bar may be used along the axis of the hinges to introduce slack in the convolutions of the strand as it is wound; and

Fig. 6 is an outline sketch showing a variation of the basic form of the device of Fig. 4, one in which a unitary and unhinged frame is employed.

The device consists primaril of two frame members I and 2, each bent into a square U shaped form with L like terminations hinged together at 3 and 4, their extremities. The frame may thus be opened and laid flat as in Fig. 1, or closed together as in Fig. 2. To the portion of each frame member constituting the bottom of the U, there are hinged short members 5 and 6 acting as flanges and supports for the semicircular half reel like member 1. At the other side of the reel member 1, there is affixed a handle 8 which serves both as a flange for the reel and as a carrying means. It will be understood that the exact shape and construction of these various members as shown is by way of example and that the construction may be varied to suit manufacturing practices and many other considerations so long as the parts cooperate in the desired manner.

Any conventional fastener 9 may be affixed to one of the frame members I, to secure the in end of the hose. When the device is laid fiat as shown in Fig. 1, the in end may be fastened and then the hose may be laid on in the convolutions of a figure 8, only the ordinary care being taken to avoid kinks or twists, or, to put it another way, no special kink or twist being put in the hose in such winding operation. After the hose has been completely wound on the device the whole may be folded in the manner of other like carrying cases, as shown in Fig. 2, where the two handles 8 and I0 come together and may be grasped as a single handle. Conventional latching means may be employed to hold the device in this closed or carrying position.

In the drawing, Fig. 1, the in end of the hose has been shown as secured in the fastener 53 and then wound on the reel member 7 in a, clockwise direction. It will be readily apparent that the in end may be fixed in the fastener 9 in the other direction and then wound on the two reel members in the opposite sense thus leaving a longer free end for attachment to a water tap while the remainder of the hose is still wound on the carrier so that only a short portion of the free end may be withdrawn. This partially withdrawn end may be rewound after the hose has been used.

When the hose is to be drawn out, the device is partially opened into what may be termed the release position where the device will be supported by the ends II and I2 of each of the reel lik members, such as I and the knees l3 and M of each of the frame members such as I. In this position the end of the hose l5 may be drawn outwardly from the now loosened convolutions without kinks or twists or any tendency to snarl.

Fig. 4 is an alternative form of the device, which may be identical with that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with the one exception that the reel like members are narrower or the portions of the frame members leading from the knees l3 and M to the hinges 3 and 4 are longer to provide a space between the handles so that the strand may be drawn out from the device in the closed position. However, where the device is to be used for small strands and it is contemplated that the strand will always be drawn out from the device in the carrying position, the reel like member [6 may be permanently afiixed to the frame member 20 at several points as by the flange members [1, l8 and [9. Also in this case the reel base members such as l6 may be more nearly complete loops and shaped at their extremities to avoid any catching of the strand on a sharp edge or corner thereof. The latching means in this case must be so located as not to interfere with the strand as it is withdrawn.

It is believed that the provision of any conventional type of latching means to hold the device in its closed position will be obvious to any one skilled in the art.

With either form of the device a cross-piece 2| may be placed between the hinges 3 and 4, thus providing added strength and assuring a sufiicient amount of slack in winding the strand material to facilitate closing the device to the carrying position, as indicated in Fig. 5.

With the second form of the device the hinges 3 and 4 may be omitted. In this case the strand material is placed in the frame by winding successive loops over the two supporting members 1, passing with each turn through the space between the two supporting members. In this way the strand material is installed in the frame With-. out any twist in the strand, and can be with drawn as desired Without twisting or kinking. This variation of the device as indicated in Fig. 6 has a unitary frame 22 instead of a two piece hinged frame as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier for strand material on which the said material may be wound in a figure eight,

acme-m 5. folded into a circular coil and drawn without kinks. or twists linearly outward from said: coil,

characterized in this that. a hinged. framework, is provided supporting a pair of reel. bases, said.

reel bases becoming colinear and. extending toward each other from said framework in the closed position thereof, said reel bases being pivoted on said frame by members acting in. the capacity of flanges, and each said reel base having a handle attached thereto acting in the capacity of a fiange and movable together to form a single grip for said device.

2. A carrier for strand material comprising a hinged framework foldable into a. substantially rectilinear package having metal frames bent into shapes defining the outlines of said package, reel bases attached to said framework to define the top and bottom outlines of a figure eight inv the opened position of said framework, being. colinear to define the top outline of a circle and extending toward each other from said framework in the closed position thereof and around which a strand may be wound in a figure eight, said reel bases being pivoted on said framework whereby the open ends of said reel bases act. as supports to hold said framework in a partly opened position and handles attached to said reel bases, said handles lying close together in the closed position of said framework to form a single grip for said device.

3. A carrier for strand material comprising a hinged frame for supporting a pair of reel members, forming the top and bottom contours of a figure eight in the opened position of said frame and parallel top contours of a simple circular reel in the closed position of said frame.

4. A carrier for strand material comprising a hinged frame for supporting a pair of reel members forming the top and the bottom contours of a figure eight in the opened position of said frame and top contours of a simple circular reel in the closed position of said frame, said reel members extending toward each other from the points of support by said frame, members for securing said reel members to said frame constituting flanges therefor and a handle fixed to the opposite side of each said reel member, said handles also act ing in the capacity of fianges therefor.

5. A carrier for strand material comprising a hinged framework constructed and arranged to lie flat in the opened position thereof and to fold together in the closed and carrying position thereof, each said framework member comprising an inverted square U shaped member having L shaped offset extremities terminating in hinge elements, reel members secured to the cross bar of each said framework member of a width comparable to the length of said offset extremities, a handle attached to each said reel member ar-- ranged to lie parallel and close to each other in the closed position of said framework and constituting a single grip for said device.

6. A carrier for strand material comprising a hinged framework constructed and arranged to lie flat in the opened position thereof and to fold together in the closed and carrying position thereof, each said framework member comprising an inverted square U shaped member having L shaped offset extremities terminating in hinge elements, reel members secured to the cross bar of each said framework member, a handle attached to each said reel member arranged to lie parallel to each other in the closed position of said framework and constituting a grip for said device.

7. A. carrier for strand material, comprising a hinged framework movable from an: open to a closed position for holding a strand wound thereon in a figure eight and folded at the cross point thereof to a single circular coil, space between the said framework in the closed position thereof being provided. to draw the. strand linearly outward from said coil.

8. A. carrier for strand material on which the said; material may be wound in a figure eight, folded into a single coil for storing and carrying and partly opened into a loosely wound and bent figure eight from which the said strand material maybe drawn. without kinks or twists linearly outward. therefrom and on to which a partially withdrawn strand may be rewound, characterized. in this that said carrier consists of a pair of in? verted square U shaped frames having L shaped ends? terminating in hinge elements, the portions of said: frames at the bend of the said L. shaped ends constituting knees, said frames hinged together to lie fiat in the opened position: thereof and to substantially outline a rectilinear package in the=closed= position thereof, a reel consisting ofaflanged semicircular member pivoted by the outer flange thereof on the top of each of said inverted square U shaped frames whereby said carrier may be opened into a strand releasing position and supported in such position on the ends of said semicircular reel members and the knees of said frame members, and a grip formed in the inner flange of each said reel member adapted to close together in the closed position of said device to constitute a single handle therefor.

9. A carrier for strand material having means to secure one end of a strand and reel members on to which a strand may be wound in alternate and successive convolutions and from which a strand may be withdrawn linearly without kinks or twists and on to which a partially withdrawn strand may be rewound, said reel members being movable to a coaxial position and to a release position for loosening the convolutions of the said wound strand.

10. A carrier for strand material in which the first end in may be made fast, the last end in may be freed for linear withdrawal without kinks or twists and into which a partially withdrawn strand may be rewound, characterized in this that a pair of hinged frame members are provided each supporting a semicircular reel member, said reel members constituting the top and bottom contours of a figure eight in one position of said frame members and parallel top contours of a simple circular reel in another position thereof.

11. A carrier for strand material onto which a strand may be wound in approximately the form of a coil without twisting or kinking, and from which the strand can be withdrawn, starting with the last end in of said strand without kinks or twists, characterized by two colinear stationary supporting members separated by a gap whereby successive turns of the strand can be alternately placed on said supporting members and the turns completed in the space between them.

12. A carrier for strand material for storing a strand in the form of a coil wound in the con volutions of a folded figure eight consisting of a framework for supporting a pair of reel members, a pair of reel members each shaped in the contour of the top portion of a coil, said reel members being spaced apart and secured to said frame in colinear relation to each other to provide free movement of a strand therebetween whereby successive loops of a strand may be alternately laid over each said member in the convolutions of a folded figure eight.

13. A carrier for strand material comprising a hinged framework constructed and arranged to lie fiat in the opened position thereof and to fold together in the closed and carrying position thereof, each said framework member comprising an.

inverted square U shaped member having L shaped offset extremities terminating in hinge elements, a bar connecting said hinge elements placed along the axis of said hinges, reel members secured to the cross bar of each said framework member, a handle attached to each said reel member arranged to lie parallel to each other in the closed position of said frame work and constituting a grip for said device.

14. A carrier for strand material consisting of a framework having a pair of reel members each mounted on an opposed portion of said frame in coaxial relationship with each other and spaced apart to provide a gap therebetween for the winding of alternate and successive loops of a strand, and the linear withdrawal of the said strand therefrom.

15. A carrier for strand material consisting of a framework having two reel members mounted thereon in coaxial or colinear relationship to each other and having a clear gap between them whereby strand material passed through said gap may be wound on and withdrawn from said reel members, successive turns of said strand material being alternately placed on said two reel members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics, April 1945, p. in Scientific Library.)

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